Ultrasound neuromodulation treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorders

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and systems and methods for non-invasive neuromodulation using ultrasound to treat gastrointestinal motility disorders. The neuromodulation can produce acute or long-term effects. The latter occur through Long-Term Depression (LTD) and Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) via training. Included is control of direction of the energy emission, intensity, frequency, pulse duration, pulse pattern, and phase / intensity relationships to targeting and accomplishing up regulation and / or down regulation.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application Numbers 61 / 537,881 filed Sep. 22, 2012, entitled “ULTRASOUND NEUROMODULATION TREATMENT OF GASTROINTESTINAL MOTILITY DISORDERS.”INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE[0002]All publications, including patents and patent applications, mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually cited to be incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]Described herein are systems and methods for Ultrasound Neuromodulation including one or more ultrasound sources for neuromodulation of gastrointestinal regions to up-regulate or down-regulate neural activity for the treatment of a medical condition.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]It has been demonstrated that focused ultrasound directed at neural structures can stimulate those structures. If neural activity is in...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent is about methods and systems for treating gastrointestinal motility disorders such as constipation and diarrhea using ultrasound neuromodulation. This can be done either on the external surface of the body or within the GI tract. The method can produce both acute and long-term effects and can be used to treat cramping and malabsorption. The patent also mentions the optional use of monitoring or imaging feedback and the potential to accelerate the movement of food through the stomach and small intestine to promote weight loss. The invention can also be used to predict which patients may have GI motility disorders associated with radiotherapy.

Problems solved by technology

First, increasing temperature will increase neural activity.

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